Coroner: Fire didn't kill Mount Vernon man

Tuesday

Apr 2, 2013 at 12:01 AMApr 3, 2013 at 8:03 AM

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - The man whose body was found in a burned-out apartment last month died from asphyxiation and from being hit in the head, not from the fire that destroyed his home, the Knox County coroner's office said yesterday.

Laura Arenschield, The Columbus Dispatch

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — The man whose body was found in a burned-out apartment last month died from asphyxiation and from being hit in the head, not from the fire that destroyed his home, the Knox County coroner’s office said yesterday.

Brad Grosscup, 52, had no smoke in his lungs, an autopsy found, which means he was likely dead in his apartment at 209 Shirley Ave. in Mount Vernon before the fire started there on Feb. 14.

Knox County Coroner Jennifer Ogle has ruled his death a homicide.

According to the autopsy report, which was released yesterday, Grosscup had bruises on both sides of his skull and no soot in his airways. The autopsy found that he did not have drugs or alcohol in his system.

Mount Vernon police have charged two people with arson in connection with the fire that burned Grosscup’s apartment, but have not charged anyone with his death.

Jedidiah Lang, 31, of Mount Vernon, and Amber Pilotti, 31, of Fredericktown, both were charged with aggravated arson. Both are in jail.

Mount Vernon investigators said last week they could not comment on the case because it is an ongoing investigation. Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher could not be reached yesterday.

Bryan Grosscup, Brad Grosscup’s brother, said he did not want to talk about the case while detectives were still investigating. He said he trusted the Mount Vernon police.